Medical Technician - Phlebotomy

The Medical Technician serves within the Phlebotomy and Specimen Receiving section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) in the Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) and is responsible for inventory and record control, accessioning, specimen collection guidance, processing, testing, storage, clerical tasks, shipping of specimens, quality improvement activities, as well as performing primary phlebotomy duties to support patient care.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Performs blood collection procedures by venipuncture or capillary techniques on designated hospital inpatients and outpatients.
• Establishes proper identity of all patients, ensures accountability of specimens by proper and complete labeling.
• Administers minor first aid, if necessary, to counteract unfavorable patient reactions.
• Maintains patient privacy in all matters in accordance with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Performs special procedures to include, but not limited to, administration of oral products such as glucola for glucose tolerance testing and obtaining specimens for forensic or medico legal purpose such as blood alcohols and drug testing.
• Performs CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Act) waived complexity testing and submits it to a Clinical Laboratory Scientist for review and verification of results.
• Receives samples and specimens of tissue, blood, urine, stool, sputum, and other body fluids.
• Performs clerical duties related to handling of laboratory specimens, e.g. conducting order entry and patient registration in reference lab information systems, accessioning specimens, receiving test results from reference laboratories, verifying for completeness, and checking for pending test results.
• Sorts specimens based on testing location, needs, and priority for turnaround time.
• Processes a wide variety of laboratory specimens for shipment to reference laboratories using procedures, test codes, requisition forms, and materials that conform to EPA (CFR 40) and OSHA (CFR 29) regulations.
• Instructs the patient in the proper use of the specimen containers and the correct times of specimen collection. Interacts with outlying clinic sites and hospital staff to educate and monitor compliance to specimen collection requirements and handling guidelines.
• Researches test menu catalogs and/or verbally locates commercial laboratories capable of performing rare and unusual tests.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Designated Drug-Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.



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ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

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This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.

The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients.

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In addition to meeting the English Language Proficiency and the Selective Placement Factor above, you must also meet one of the following:


SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level. Specialized experience is: (a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week ~OR~

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successful completion of at least one-half year of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One (1) year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, eighteen (18) semester hours should be considered as satisfying one (1) year of full-time requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) ~OR~

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and experience, as described above. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application)



Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, including standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, or carrying or lifting items such as specimen containers, supply boxes, phlebotomy equipment, etc. (up to 45 pounds and with assistance as needed). There may be special requirements for manual dexterity and coordination (i.e., hand/eye coordination or good color vision) to perform precise procedures such as venipuncture and specimen handling.

Work Environment: The work is performed in a combination of laboratory, outpatient clinics, inpatient units, patient bedside settings, etc. which may involve exposure to infectious materials, hazardous chemicals, odors, and electrical appliances/equipment. There is potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens, needle stick injuries, and other hazards associated with specimen collection and handling. The incumbent follows standard safety precautions including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize risk. The work environment may be fast-paced and occasionally stressful, especially when dealing with anxious, ill, or difficult patients, or when responding to urgent collection requests.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.


NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.